Dental model

Claim 1

A dental model for maintaining a removable model tooth in registration within a die mounted upon a base of a dental model, said dental model comprising in combination: (a) a pin attached to and extending from the model tooth for guiding the model tooth into a seated relationship with the die upon the base; (b) an elongated insert extending commensurate with a plurality of model teeth and rigidly set in said base, said insert extending into both the base and the die on either side of a line of demarcation therebetween, said insert including: i. an upper section extending commensurate with the length of said insert, said upper section being releasably connected to the die and extending above the line of demarcation; ii. a lower section extending commensurate with the length of said insert, said lower section depending from said upper section into the base and fixed therein below the line of demarcation to maintain structural continuity of said insert despite saw cuts made therein to a depth below the line of demarcation to isolate a model tooth within the die; and iii. a series of cylindrical passageways one of which slidably receives said pin for maintaining the alignment of said pin during engagement and disengagement of the model tooth with the die; and (c) a series of studs formed as part of said upper section of said insert, at least one stud positioned next to each of said passageways and extending upwardly into and releasably registering with corresponding cavities formed in the die and the model tooth to ensure dimensional stability by cooperation with said passageway for registering the model tooth upon the base and with the die upon seating of the model tooth.